A new cellular tower was installed atop Sproul Hall over winter break, providing increased reception for students with AT&T.
Plans for installing the new cellular tower began about nine months ago, said Janice Bundy, infrastructure and project services director for the Communications Technology Services Center. She said installation was scheduled during winter break so that students living on the Hill would not be disturbed.
The new tower is the result of a cellular site initiative that was started a few years ago by the Communications Technology Services Center at UCLA, Bundy said. The initiative aimed to provide an efficient management plan to oversee the maintenance and upgrade of cellular sites on campus.
Since the initiative, CTS has worked closely with various cellular providers in order to improve service throughout the campus and residential community, she added.
“It takes anywhere between a year and a half to three years to fully install and activate a site,” said Karla Enriquez, corporate communication representative for AT&T. Data usage is monitored on an ongoing basis, and cellular towers are strategically placed in areas with heavy usage.
With AT&T’s support, Sproul Hall was identified as a good location to install a cellular tower, Bundy said.
Since AT&T is essentially renting the space for the placement of the tower, revenue for UCLA is generated from the installation, said John Min, director of information technology for Housing and Hospitality Services. Students do not end up paying for the new tower.
Students on the Hill said the new cellular tower is a long-awaited improvement.
“I’ve had the same phone for (many) years, and I used to think that the bad service was because my phone was old,” said David Garges, second-year electrical engineering student.
The Rieber Vista resident said he used to have to press his face up against the window to try and maximize the service he received in his room.
“It’s about time an AT&T tower was installed,” he said. “It should have been done a while ago.”